Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Vladimir Tarasenko played in the KHL for Sibir Novosibirsk. In 38 games, Tarasenko scored 7 goals and added 3 assists for 10 points. He played for Russia at the U-18 World Junior Championships, where he scored 8 goals and added 7 assists for 15 points in 7 games.

2009-10: Played for Sibir Novosibirsk in the KHL. In 42 games, Tarasenko scored 13 goals and chipped in 11 assists for 24 points. He played for Russia at the U-20 World Junior Championships. In 6 games, he netted 4 goals and added 1 assist for 5 points.

2010-11: Tarasenko skated in 42 of 54 regular season games for Novosibirsk Siber in Russia's KHL, missing time due to a shoulder injury, and played for Russia at the 2011 U20 World Junior Championship and IIHF World Championship tournaments. Tarasenko scored 9 goals with 10 assists and was +1 with 8 PMs as Novosibirsk finished third in the Chernyshev Division. He was scoreless and -3 in three playoff games. Tarasenko and Washington Capitals' prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov shared the scoring lead for gold-medal winning Russia at the junior tournament, both scoring 4 goals with 7 assists. He skated in six of nine games at the World Championship tournament and was -3 with 1 goal. Russia finished fourth in the tournament after losing to the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game.

2011-12: Tarasenko was acquired by SKA St. Petersburg in a mid-season trade with Sibir Novosibirsk in Russia's KHL. After getting off to a slow start following the trade he was one of the top scorers in the KHL playoffs. He scored 18 goals with 20 assists and was plus-12 in 39 games with Novosibirsk prior to the trade. In 15 regular season games with Bobrov Division champion SKA he scored 5 goals with 4 assists and was plus-six. SKA reached the West conference finals, falling to eventual champion Dynamo Moscow. Tarasov returned to his point-per-game scoring pace in the playoffs – finishing with 10 goals and 6 assists in 15 games and was plus-10 with 6 penalty minutes. Tarasenko signed a three-year entry-level contract with St. Louis in July, 2012.

2012-13: With five points in his first two NHL games, Tarasenko looked ready to have a monster rookie season. But he did not have the same success after the first month and was further set back by a concussion in February; missing 10 games. In 38 games with the Blues he scored 8 goals with 11 assists and was +1 with 10 penalty minutes. He was used sparingly late in the season, playing just six minutes in his only playoff appearance in the Blues' six-game series with Los Angeles. During the lockout, he skated alongside Ilya Kovalchuk with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. In 31 games he scored 14 goals with 18 assists and was +16 with 8 penalty minutes.

Talent Analysis

Considered the top Russian-born talent in the 2010 draft, Tarasenko slipped into the mid-first round due to concerns about his contract status in the KHL with Sibir Novosibirsk, the team coached by his father. Tarasenko has frequently expressed his wish to play in the NHL and the Blues are confident they added a future first line winger to their organization. Tarasenko's strongest asset is his goal scoring ability with his quick hands and sudden release. His explosive acceleration allows him to create space, where he can score or use his strong playmaking ability. A fiery competitor, he plays with grit and tenacity. He is solidly built at 5'11 202 pounds, and has been playing against men in the KHL since the age of 16, making him one of the more pro ready prospects of the 2010 class.

Future

Tarasenko was looking like a Calder Trophy favorite at the start of the 2012-13 season. Due to injury, Tarasenko missed a chunk of games and failed to find the same groove once returning to the ice. His North American arrival was long awaited, and it seems to be worth it. Look for Tarasenko to be major part of the Blues’ scoring in 2013-14.

Photo: Jaden Schwartz, selected 14th overall in 2010, skated in 45 regular season and six playoff games for the St. Louis Blues in 2012-13 (courtesy of Keith Gillett/Icon SMI)

Prior to the trade deadline, the St. Louis Blues tried to acquire enough talent to make a push for the Stanley Cup. While the additions of Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold helped solidify the depth and experience of their blue line, they were unsuccessful in making a run for a championship and lost both young talent and draft picks in the process. In the Bouwmeester deal, the Blues gave up Mark Cundari, Reto Berra, and a conditional first round draft pick, which would be exercised if the Blues made the playoffs. The Blues did make the playoffs and were forced to give up their 2013 first round draft pick to the Calgary Flames.

Photo: Rookie winger Jaden Schwartz played a prominent role in Peoria during the NHL lockout, but since the start of the Blues season, he has skated in a bottom-six role in St. Louis (courtesy of Steven King/Icon SMI)

The St. Louis Blues have found a way to be successful at the NHL level and still maintain a very deep prospect pool. With draft selections primarily out of the top ten picks, the Blues have drafted extremely well to maintain a talented group of players at all positions.

Photo: St. Louis Blues prospect Vladimir Tarasenko has been brilliant in his NHL rookie season. Tarasenko was drafted 16th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Derek Leung/Getty Images)

While picking the top NHL prospect is never an easy task, it was particularly difficult in the Spring Top 50 rankings as there were several candidates worthy of consideration for top prospect. Many prospects performed at a high level this season, particularly in the NHL, where a truncated regular season has seen over 125 rookies lace up for at least one game.